How to Clean and Maintain a Chocolate Fountain
Owning a chocolate fountain is fun as long as the fountain is overflowing with chocolate and people are having a gala time dipping into it. After the last guest has departed and you are with your chocolate fountain all alone, there is nothing more annoying than having to clean things up. But then you are left with no valid option, than to clean up the mess, as well as the fountain as soon as you possibly can. These simple steps will help you clean and maintain your chocolate fountain in the best possible condition.
How to Clean a Chocolate Fountain
Dealing with liquid chocolate is indeed a messy job; forget liquid chocolate, even regular chocolate can be a messy affair. Cleaning up after a party doesn’t seem to offer an interesting prospective; yet you can’t leave it either, for you might wake up to unwanted guests (pests) the next day. It’s best to clean up while the chocolate is still in the liquid form.
| Things to Get Started |
| ★ Plastic Container
★ Spatula ★ Plastic Gloves ★ Hot Water ★ Soap Solution ★ Sponge ★ Disposable Carry Bags |
Process of Cleaning
Look to your left for the things used to do the cleaning, and once you have everything in hand, you can begin cleaning the chocolate fountain.
Step 1: Begin by draining out all the excess chocolate from the fountain. You can either store the chocolate in a container or dispose off the remainder. Do not run the chocolate fudge down the drain as it may result in clogging of the drain pipe. If you find crumbs and bits of fruits, it is advisable to dispose off the chocolate as it would be unfit for consumption. If you find a few hardened lumps of chocolate, it is advisable to run the fountain for some time, till it melts or you can try your hair dryer to heat things up faster. Either way, ensure all the liquid chocolate is out of the fountain.
Step 2: Once you have got rid of all the excess chocolate, fill the basin with a jug full of warm water and run the fountain for a few minutes. This will ensure the removal of all the chocolate residue. Drain the water from the basin and dismantle the fountain. Your fountain will disassemble into four parts: auger tube, auger, bowl tiers, and the basin/ base. All the parts of the fountain except the basin, are dishwasher-friendly and can be stacked into it for a quick wash. You can do it manually as well, if you have time and energy that is.
Step 3: Using a sponge and some warm soapy solution, get to washing the basin. Take precaution while washing though, as any water percolating to the machine area could lead to a possible short circuit, thus hampering the working of the fountain. Be sure to check for any residue in and around the basin area, and if needed, wipe again with a wet sponge. Allow it to dry completely before you stack it away. It is advisable to leave the basin with some warm water to get rid of all stickiness, before you get to actually washing it.
Step 4: Check the auger tube once it is out of the dishwasher for any residue; if you still find some, soak it in some warm soapy solution for a few hours and rinse off, under running water. Once you are done with the washing, dry and pack it off in a dry and ventilated place. Keep away from moisture as it can damage the fountain.
Time Factor
Many of you must be wondering if this will take you a long time to complete, isn’t it? Trust me, the entire process of washing will hardly take you a couple of minutes. Ensure that the water you use is not just warm but hot; hot water will work faster and leave you with lesser tension as it removes all possible grime and residue in minutes. As mentioned earlier, you can fill the basin with warm water and run it for a few minutes while you get the other stuff cleared up.
Being a chocolate lover, I simply can’t think of wasting precious chocolate. Instead of throwing out the chocolate, store the chocolate in jars and make a variety of dishes your kids will thank you for. Try out the chocolate sandwich or the chocolate toast for breakfast. You can also fill your ice trays with the chocolate and have chocolate cubes. Besides, you can even try out a chocolate milkshake. Only remember to use it as soon as possible and before that, do remove all the fruit bits that might have dropped into the fountain during the party. By the way, do not forget to clean it even though you love chocolate and find it hard to part with it. Cleaning and maintaining the hygiene of your chocolate fountain will ensure the smooth running and optimum use of your chocolate fountain.
Why do Men Need Women in their Lives?
There is scientific evidence to prove that biologically, men and women are wired differently and perhaps, it is this very difference that attracts us to each other, no matter what relationship we share. Aren’t we all looking for someone to complement us and not necessarily behave exactly as we do? Women may not admit it but the “wild” behavior in men is often appreciated at some level by women (turns them on would be a more appropriate expression). There’s a phase that many women go through when they find “bad boys” very attractive, never mind their messy hair or clumsy, unkempt attire or over-the-top machismo attitudes. But the same “attraction” turns into nuisance (turns women off would be an understatement!) when the “crush” graduates” into a long-term relationship.
The Eternal Battle of the Sexes
It is no secret that men are indeed naturally wired to crave for physical intimacy and this wiring can be traced back to serve the basic purpose of procreation and furthering the species! But there are other needs that men have that they would expect the women in their lives to fulfill. Most of the male expectations can be traced back to the lives of our ancestors and even other species closest to ours like apes and monkeys (no offense, and they were common to both genders anyway). The male was always the breadwinner (as the hunter, provider, protector, etc.) and the woman was always the caregiver (assuming the roles of the mate, communicator, mother, nurse, cook, etc.). This clear distribution of roles and responsibilities, as stifling as they were for the women as evolution progressed, was quite convenient to men despite being physically more demanding and dangerous. In modern times, an inconsistent overlap in these roles and responsibilities have been liberating for women. However, the men feel they have been handed out a raw deal. The women willingly took on the additional roles of supporting the family but now the guys are confused as ever, about getting their needs addressed. Now it certainly isn’t their fault that they are not “made for” tending to children or doing the dishes!
Men need women as emotional anchors because they’re not very good with their own feelings (perhaps another biological disadvantage)! Men desire emotional intimacy from women but they are not as clued into reading “cryptic” clues and body language gestures. They need the women to be straightforward and communicate the truth. While batting the eyelids may be a physical turn on for some men, most will not decipher any hidden meanings behind it. As men are still biologically wired to be the breadwinners, they have a prehistoric urge to feel “needed” by the women. While the modern male would prefer a self-sufficient, secure and confident woman, he still looks for appreciation. In fact, he abhors criticism and manipulative behavior and just wants the woman to make him feel important! While the entire world may be singing his praises, at the end of the day, a few gentle words of acknowledgment and appreciation from a woman is really what drives him to greater heights of achievement.
So what other reasons are there for women to exist in men’s lives? Well, we may have summed it all above already. That should be about it! Anything else that you can think of is bound to be derived from the above points. Now that we know why men need women, the next thing to wonder about is, what would men do without women? Well, ultimately probably they would kill themselves, but in the meanwhile, they would treat their newfound “freedom” with the utmost respect! Some activities to celebrate the moment of “glory” would be as follows!
⚨ Head to the bar with some equally exhilarated cronies to watch that special football game that’s being played out in honor of the surviving men of the world! The end of the paradigm of male slavery that is marriage! No more “Son, go take a bath, comb your disheveled hair” or “take the trash out” or “Get those crumbs out of your beard and put the damned toilet seat down after you’re done!”. No more watching out for your sisters or daughters from psychopaths. Turn up the volume some more and hail the male species!
⚨ What a pleasure it is to drive without old grannies and young girls crossing the roads without a care in the world. Better still, no woman drivers to get on the forever-in-a-hurry masculine nerves! Wow, this should all have happened sooner!
⚨ No need to shave, take a bath or tidy up because no one’s going to be looking or checking! Why, even a change of clothes would probably become a once in a blue moon event. This is what freedom feels like.
⚨ Words and phrases that are likely to be erased from the dictionary: hygiene, cleanliness, flushing, wiping, systematic, organized, remember, taking care, regularly, haircut, daily, chores, love, warmth, responsibility, duty, cooking, listening, understanding, colors, hues, shades, chick, beauty, anniversary, birthday, emotional blackmail, etc. Words and phrases that will be used more frequently: later, once in a blue moon, never, no need, pizza, beer, take out, disposable, reusable, yes, no, black, white, etc. More than words, grunts, snores, fist fights and swearing might become the new forms of communication. Ultimately, there would be no need for a dictionary or different languages, what with so few words and less need to communicate.
⚨ All research would perhaps focus on creating an artificial “egg” (since artificial sperms are supposedly already available!) for survival of the male species. Robots may perhaps become the most important people in men’s lives. Of course, they’ll be mute because “listening” will cease to be an activity and the ear will become a vestigial organ. The brain will be rendered redundant, slowly but surely.
⚨ Every morning will present itself with a great excuse not to show up at work. Very soon, there would be no need for permanent employment, no goals, no need to save money, no phone bills to take care of, retirement will be the longest stage of life and getting by every day, somehow, anyhow, will become the survival mantra!
Generations of women, for several centuries have been trying to “set right” the lives of their men. Women are not entirely clueless about what men want from them. Of course, there’s a plethora of literature about what women want as well, but let us restrict our scope to the topic at hand! But then again, women are hoping to be able to instruct robots to “listen” quietly, mow the lawn, drive women around and “understand” in a bid to replace the men in their lives, and while research seems to be promising in that area, men do not seem to have achieved much despite magical inventions such as washing machines, dishwashers, automatic toilet flushing mechanisms, ready-to-cook food and take-out menus and even sex toys that claim to provide a very real experience! From a woman’s perspective, men would be totally lost without women in the following ways.
⚧ There would be no sexual orientation, just the one and only “homosexual male” and a billion of them! Wonder how soon the novelty would wear out on that stuff!
⚧ Heading to the bar for viewing football games? That won’t last long without the cheerleaders! And who will the players try to impress without the wives and girlfriends? It would just be a bunch of men running around with no real purpose and a whole other bunch of men watching them, again, with no real purpose. Testosterone overdose, by all means.
⚧ Driving without swearing at nannies and little girls and without forever cribbing about how badly women drive? Men will soon realize that just driving away smoothly sans all the bickering is really no fun. Also, they’re not going to stop for directions, so how long are they going to keep driving?
⚧ Men are famously “visual” beings. Without women they would virtually go blind! Hairy cave men are certainly not going to be a visual temptation for the ever-wandering eyes! And no, the robots won’t suffice for obvious reasons.
⚧ Men are famously insecure about their own emotions. With no women to comfort them, the world would be just full of crazy men wanting to tear each other apart. Shrinks would be in demand for a while but men have always had a problem with seeking help and worse paying a total stranger to talk about their problems. There’s another point of no return.
⚧ Without warmth and care, without reaching out for support, the men of the world would simply perish. Women are criticized from time immemorial for being expert gossipmongers, but it is an effective way to monitor the pulse of the neighborhood! Without social attachments, men would just become lonely, boring and self-loathing couch potatoes. There would be no cooperation; only violent, unhealthy competition. Sadly, they won’t even be indulging in violence for winning a woman! Man would just cease to be “human”.
⚧ Ultimately the world will begin to look like a mammoth prison camp with hairy, cold and unkempt men fighting over everything and no one (mother, sister, wife or daughter) to stop them or bring order! If you’re a movie buff, you know that countless male villains have been spared the death blow upon a woman’s request! With no women to impress or appease, killing will become a thriving sport! The ensuing bloodbath will mark the quickest end of the human species, sorry, the male species!
Trying to put oneself in the shoes of the opposite sex is quite a task! Believing in the magic of nature is the only true surrender to guessing why men would want to imagine life without women. We’re poles apart naturally, so there must be a way to get along or we would not find ourselves together in this world. We’re meant to be here for each other, we’re meant to complement each other because we’re different. Men need women as companions. When they’re babies they need the mother much more than their father, the grief, illnesses and challenges of adulthood become worthwhile in the company of a comforting woman. One can only infer that they need women in their lives. They may detest the nagging and the constant chatter, they may wish to be left alone for a while, but men would rather have women in their lives than dream of an all-male population driving humanity to extinction.
“Nobody will ever win the battle of the sexes. There’s too much fraternizing with the enemy.” ~ Henry Kissinger
Types of Sandpaper
Sandpapers are things that we sometimes tend to take for granted. Some of us have also committed the folly of making use of any variety available at home, because all sandpapers are ultimately sandpapers, aren’t they? Yes, they are, but each one has its own purpose. So, when you use the wrong type, either you won’t be able to do any sanding, or worse, leave scratches on the surface. Some dilemma, this. And when you get down to the task, you’ll have grit size, material, backing adhesive, abrasion… so many things that must be considered while choosing the right kind of sandpaper that fits your needs. Confused? Fret not, as we bring you a comprehensive guide on different types of sandpapers available in the market and their uses.
Characteristics and Types of Sandpaper
Surface Material
This refers to the material that forms the surface. There are four commonly found materials.
- Aluminum Oxide is a very popular type that can be used on metals as well as wood. It is also available in all kinds of grits.
- Garnet usually suits wood. It is the traditional sandpaper as the surface comprises actual sand particles. The level of coarseness is lower than aluminum oxide, making it less durable.
- Silicon Carbide, like aluminum oxide, is available in all types of grits and is extremely coarse. You will find it handy while wet sanding any surface. It is used to cut metal, plastic, fiberglass and remove paint. However, it tends to wear out faster.
- Ceramic is the hardest of all the sandpapers available in the market, and the most expensive one as well. It is used in shaving and leveling wood. They form a part of sander belts most of the time.
Grit
The grit of a sandpaper is the abrasion that you see on the surface. This is the most crucial feature of a sandpaper. They have values that correspond to the level of coarseness; higher the number, smoother the surface, and vice versa. Following are the types of sandpaper available, along with their respective uses.
| Sandpaper Varieties | ||||
| Grit | Grit Grade | Grit Size (µm) | Compatible With | Used For |
| Macro Grits | Very coarse | 30-36 | Metal and Wood | Removing rust, Shaping wood |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coarse | 40-50 | Metal and Wood | Removing paint, On hardwood floors, Removing scratches | |
| Medium | 60-80 | Wood and Plaster | Preliminary smoothing of walls, Wood sanding, Removing marks | |
| Fine | 100-120 | Wood and Plaster | Final use before the finishing | |
| Very Fine | 150-220 | Wood and Plaster | Final sanding | |
| Micro Grits | Extra Fine | 220-240 | Wood and Plaster | Sanding between coats, Giving a silky touch |
| Super Fine | 400-600 | Wood, Plaster, Glass | Sanding of finishes, Wet sanding, Giving sheen | |
| Ultra Fine | 800-1000 | Glass | Polishing | |
Backing material
Though sandpapers are often ‘papers’, sometimes different materials like cotton, polyester or rayon may be used in backing. Vulcanized rubber or fiber can be used to make the base as well. In case of very fine grits, mylar is the appropriate material. Why is this important? The backing material indicates the flexibility, thus determining its usage.
Adhesive Used
The glue mainly used to manufacture sandpapers is called ‘hide glue’. However, it is not waterproof, if you need to use one for wet sanding; pick one that has a resin bond and waterproof backing material.
Shapes
Sandpapers are available in different shapes to suit your requirements, sheets being the most common. Other shapes include rolls and disks, and cloth backed belts are used to fit in belt sanders. Sandpaper sponges allow sanding in hard-to-reach spots.
Sanding can be made easy just by choosing the right kind of product. And just in case you run out of regular sandpaper, you even have the option of a liquid sandpaper. Hopefully, you are now armed to make the right choice. Before you get down to business, don’t forget to put a dust mask on!
Do Self-help Books Really Help?
“Words are merely utterances: noises that stand for feelings, thoughts, and experience. They are symbols. Signs. Insignias. They are not Truth. They are not the real thing”. ~ ‘Conversations with God’ by Neale Donald Walsch.
We, the people of the 21st century, are so stressed out and burdened with life, that anxiety attacks, heartbreak and depression have become common terms for us. Many of you out there, just like me would not want to spend time and money on visiting a therapist to solve such problems. And what do we have for respite, if not for words of advice from trained professionals and elders, is a multitude of self-help books. The hysteria surrounding these books is evidently on the rise, as statistics prove that self-help books are apparently best sellers. But is it worth investing your money on books that only offer advice?
Purpose of Self-help Books
A Testimonial of Change
Being an ardent reader of self-help books myself, the foremost thought that comes to my mind, with regards to these books, is that they are a testimonial. By testimony, I imply evidence of an intrinsic change, that the authors have experienced for themselves. What interests me here, is the silent urge to know that we are not alone, and like us there are several others going through a similar problem. What self-help books do best, in my opinion, is to link two relatively unknown souls on a relatively common platform, thus providing individuals a scope to know about another person’s experience in a similar situation. And with self-help books being a fad these days, just about anyone, who experiences a sapience, wishes to be lauded for his/her pearls of wisdom. At a glance, these books could be works of pure fiction or they could actually hint towards a deeper understanding of oneself. After all, it’s self-discovery, that these books aim at, isn’t it?
Scope for Introspection
From time immemorial, saints and sages have talked about man’s ardent desire to search for the ultimate truth, the truth about themselves. Even authors like Mitch Albom, Anthony Robbins, Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, etc., have talked about self introspection in their works. Besides, man’s inquisitive nature, and thirst for his spiritual existence leads him to nirvana. Most of the self-help books are written with the sole intention of leading an individual deeper into oneself. Man’s yearning to break free from all the bonds and seek solace within is known to almost everyone, and this yearning leads him to one of the self-help books that mediate him to dig deeper into the self. In the words of Neale, “The deepest secret is that life is not a process of discovery, but a process of creation. You are not discovering yourself, but creating yourself anew. Seek, therefore, not to find out Who You Are, seek to determine Who You Want to Be”.
A Ray of Hope
According to the trend observed in markets, individuals rush to pick a copy of self-help books especially to soothe themselves when faced with difficult situations. Books that deal with facing depression, tackling anxiety attacks, developing friendship, etc., have definitely seen a rise, but are they worth the money? Basically, what you and I do, is run to people for advice in a relatively sticky situation and what better way to do that than to open a book and read for yourself. Most of us consider these books to be the greatest source of wisdom; but a thought to ponder on is imperative. Before you venture to the store and pick up a book, ask yourself, if it is practical to apply all the implications to your situation. Or are you simply confusing yourself further by referring to a thousand books? If you look at the book just as a light in the dark, there is a possibility that it could flicker off too. It’s true that self-help books are designed to guide you, but if not applied in practical life, it could be misleading too. Think about it.
Real or Placebo Effect
Heraclitus says, “Change is the only constant”, and self-help books are intended to bring about a change in perception. But how far is this change perceivable? If we as seekers with a clear purpose in mind, turn to self-help books, then it can play an instrumental role to bring about the desired change. Self-help books point out the importance of our relationships with one another, which are correlated with happiness and inner well-being; it is in all cases, subjective to the individual. One question you should ask yourself when referring to a self-help book is, is this for real or a mere placebo effect? Bear in mind that what works well for your friend may not work for you, or for any other individual for that matter. As mentioned earlier, change is the only constant, and all of us are subconsciously changing every moment of our lives. As believed, self-help books can have a desired outcome, only if you as an individual implement the information in your practical everyday life.
Tread with Caution
By all means yes, this is the ultimate warning. Self-help books can offer wonderful advice, but are you ready to accept facts and make a lasting impact on your life? All self-help books talk about is, taking the step forward and being the change that you always want to have in your life. All valid confusion can be literally wiped away, if we condition our minds to think in the way, that is written about. The whole purpose of a self-help book may be lost if you do not condition your old ways and tune in to the new. Besides, it is always best to remember that, not every advice written in these books can be applied in practical life. Would you blindly trust a stranger telling you that your actions prove you insane? If your answer is negative, then you ought to give a serious thought to follow every single advice meted out in a self-help book. After all, even though we are created from the same earth, not all of us think and behave in the same way.
As for me, self-help books serve as a great tool to know where, I as an individual, am heading in life. Self-help books, for me, are a source of information and a medium for self introspection. You are free to differ in your opinion, for after all, life is what you perceive it to be and no one is born with a forced will.
Make self-help books really help?
“Words are simply expressions noises represent feelings, thoughts and experiences that are symbolic signs are not really Badges are not the real thing …..” . ~ ‘Conversations with God “by Neale Donald Walsch.
We the people of the 21st century are so stressed and overwhelmed with life, anxiety attacks, anxiety and depression have become common terms for us. Many of you out there, as I do not want to spend time and money to visit a therapist to solve these problems. And what we have for the rest, if not for the words of advice of trained professionals and the elderly is a multitude of self help books. The hysteria surrounding these books is clearly on the rise, as statistics show that the seemingly self-help books are best sellers. But it’s worth investing your money on books that offer only tips
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Testimony Exchange
Being a passionate reader of books on self-yo, the most important idea that comes to my mind about these books is that they are a testimony. From the testimony, which involves a change intrinsic evidence, which the authors have experienced for themselves. What interests me here is the momentum in silence to know we are not alone and there are several others like us going through a similar problem. What the best self-help books, in my opinion, is for relatively unknown two souls unite in a relatively common platform, thus providing individuals an area know about the experience of another person in a similar situation. And with the help of books on self-being a fashion these days, almost everyone who experiences a wisdom, wants to be praised for his / pearls of wisdom. At first glance, these books can be fiction or in fact could hint at a deeper understanding of oneself. After all, is self-discovery, that these books are intended, right?Scope of introspection
From time immemorial, the saints and sages have talked about wanting burning man in search of ultimate truth, the truth about themselves. Even authors like Mitch Albom, Anthony Robbins, Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, etc., have spoken of self introspection in his works. In addition, the inquisitive nature of man, and their spiritual thirst leads to nirvana. Most self-help books are written with the sole intention of bringing a person more in yourself. Anhelo man’s freedom from all bonds and seek solace that is known to almost everyone, and this desire leads to a self-help books that further mediate in the car. In the words of Neale, “The deepest secret is that life is not a process of discovery, but to seek a process of creation. It is being discovered, but the creation of himself again., Therefore, not to know who you are, try to determine who wants to be. “
According to the trend in the markets, people are quick to pick up a copy of the self-help books, especially for calm when faced with difficult situations. Books facing treat depression, fighting anxiety attacks, the development of friendship, etc, have definitely seen an increase, but worth the money? Basically, what you and I, is for people to the council in a relatively sticky and what better way than to open a book and read for yourself. Most of us believe that these books are the greatest source of wisdom, but a thought to ponder is essential. Before venture to the store and pick up a book, ask yourself if it is practical to implement all the implications of their situation. Or just confusing you even more by referring to a thousand books? If you look at the book only as a light in the darkness, there is a possibility that could blink out too. It is true that self-help books are designed to guide you, but if not applied in practical life, it could be misleading too. Think about it.
Real or placebo effect
Heraclitus says “Change is the only constant” , and self-help books are intended to bring about change in perception. But how far this change is perceptible? If we as applicants with a clear purpose in mind, we turn to self-help books, then you can play a fundamental role in achieving the desired change. Books self-help stress the importance of our relationships with others, that correlate with happiness and inner well-being, but is in all cases, subjective to the individual. A question to ask when referring to a self-help book is, is it real or just a placebo effect? Keep in mind that what works for your friend may not work for you, or anyone else for that matter. As mentioned earlier, change is the only constant, and unconsciously we are all changing every moment of our lives. As it is believed, self-help books can have a desired result, if you as an individual to implement the information in their daily practice.
The band bearing with Caution
By all means, yes, this is the final warning. The self-help books can provide wonderful advice, but are you ready to accept the facts and make a lasting impact in your life? All talk is self-help books, take the step into the future and the change that you always want to have in your life. All valid confusion can be literally erased, if we condition our minds to think about how has been written about. The purpose of a self-help book can be lost if the condition of your old habits and tune into the new one. Furthermore, it is always better to remember that not all the tips written in these books can be applied in practical life. Would you blindly trust a stranger who tells him that his actions show you crazy? If your answer is no, then you should give serious thought to follow all the advice of a single tax on a self-help book. After all, even though we were created from the same land, not all think and behave the same way.
As for me, self-help books serve as a great tool to know where, I as an individual, I’m heading in life. The self-help books, to me, are a source of information and a means of personal introspection. You are free to vary in their opinion, after all, life is what you perceived to be and no one is born with a desire forced.
Buzzle : Home and lifestyle
Do Self-help Books Really Help?
“Words are merely utterances: noises that stand for feelings, thoughts, and experience. They are symbols. Signs. Insignias. They are not Truth. They are not the real thing”. ~ ‘Conversations with God’ by Neale Donald Walsch.
We, the people of the 21st century, are so stressed out and burdened with life, that anxiety attacks, heartbreak and depression have become common terms for us. Many of you out there, just like me would not want to spend time and money on visiting a therapist to solve such problems. And what do we have for respite, if not for words of advice from trained professionals and elders, is a multitude of self-help books. The hysteria surrounding these books is evidently on the rise, as statistics prove that self-help books are apparently best sellers. But is it worth investing your money on books that only offer advice?
Purpose of Self-help Books
A Testimonial of Change
Being an ardent reader of self-help books myself, the foremost thought that comes to my mind, with regards to these books, is that they are a testimonial. By testimony, I imply evidence of an intrinsic change, that the authors have experienced for themselves. What interests me here, is the silent urge to know that we are not alone, and like us there are several others going through a similar problem. What self-help books do best, in my opinion, is to link two relatively unknown souls on a relatively common platform, thus providing individuals a scope to know about another person’s experience in a similar situation. And with self-help books being a fad these days, just about anyone, who experiences a sapience, wishes to be lauded for his/her pearls of wisdom. At a glance, these books could be works of pure fiction or they could actually hint towards a deeper understanding of oneself. After all, it’s self-discovery, that these books aim at, isn’t it?
Scope for Introspection
From time immemorial, saints and sages have talked about man’s ardent desire to search for the ultimate truth, the truth about themselves. Even authors like Mitch Albom, Anthony Robbins, Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, etc., have talked about self introspection in their works. Besides, man’s inquisitive nature, and thirst for his spiritual existence leads him to nirvana. Most of the self-help books are written with the sole intention of leading an individual deeper into oneself. Man’s yearning to break free from all the bonds and seek solace within is known to almost everyone, and this yearning leads him to one of the self-help books that mediate him to dig deeper into the self. In the words of Neale, “The deepest secret is that life is not a process of discovery, but a process of creation. You are not discovering yourself, but creating yourself anew. Seek, therefore, not to find out Who You Are, seek to determine Who You Want to Be”.
A Ray of Hope
According to the trend observed in markets, individuals rush to pick a copy of self-help books especially to soothe themselves when faced with difficult situations. Books that deal with facing depression, tackling anxiety attacks, developing friendship, etc., have definitely seen a rise, but are they worth the money? Basically, what you and I do, is run to people for advice in a relatively sticky situation and what better way to do that than to open a book and read for yourself. Most of us consider these books to be the greatest source of wisdom; but a thought to ponder on is imperative. Before you venture to the store and pick up a book, ask yourself, if it is practical to apply all the implications to your situation. Or are you simply confusing yourself further by referring to a thousand books? If you look at the book just as a light in the dark, there is a possibility that it could flicker off too. It’s true that self-help books are designed to guide you, but if not applied in practical life, it could be misleading too. Think about it.
Real or Placebo Effect
Heraclitus says, “Change is the only constant”, and self-help books are intended to bring about a change in perception. But how far is this change perceivable? If we as seekers with a clear purpose in mind, turn to self-help books, then it can play an instrumental role to bring about the desired change. Self-help books point out the importance of our relationships with one another, which are correlated with happiness and inner well-being; it is in all cases, subjective to the individual. One question you should ask yourself when referring to a self-help book is, is this for real or a mere placebo effect? Bear in mind that what works well for your friend may not work for you, or for any other individual for that matter. As mentioned earlier, change is the only constant, and all of us are subconsciously changing every moment of our lives. As believed, self-help books can have a desired outcome, only if you as an individual implement the information in your practical everyday life.
Tread with Caution
By all means yes, this is the ultimate warning. Self-help books can offer wonderful advice, but are you ready to accept facts and make a lasting impact on your life? All self-help books talk about is, taking the step forward and being the change that you always want to have in your life. All valid confusion can be literally wiped away, if we condition our minds to think in the way, that is written about. The whole purpose of a self-help book may be lost if you do not condition your old ways and tune in to the new. Besides, it is always best to remember that, not every advice written in these books can be applied in practical life. Would you blindly trust a stranger telling you that your actions prove you insane? If your answer is negative, then you ought to give a serious thought to follow every single advice meted out in a self-help book. After all, even though we are created from the same earth, not all of us think and behave in the same way.
As for me, self-help books serve as a great tool to know where, I as an individual, am heading in life. Self-help books, for me, are a source of information and a medium for self introspection. You are free to differ in your opinion, for after all, life is what you perceive it to be and no one is born with a forced will.
Do Self-help Books Really Help?
“Words are merely utterances: noises that stand for feelings, thoughts, and experience. They are symbols. Signs. Insignias. They are not Truth. They are not the real thing”. ~ ‘Conversations with God’ by Neale Donald Walsch.
We, the people of the 21st century, are so stressed out and burdened with life, that anxiety attacks, heartbreak and depression have become common terms for us. Many of you out there, just like me would not want to spend time and money on visiting a therapist to solve such problems. And what do we have for respite, if not for words of advice from trained professionals and elders, is a multitude of self-help books. The hysteria surrounding these books is evidently on the rise, as statistics prove that self-help books are apparently best sellers. But is it worth investing your money on books that only offer advice?
Purpose of Self-help Books
A Testimonial of Change
Being an ardent reader of self-help books myself, the foremost thought that comes to my mind, with regards to these books, is that they are a testimonial. By testimony, I imply evidence of an intrinsic change, that the authors have experienced for themselves. What interests me here, is the silent urge to know that we are not alone, and like us there are several others going through a similar problem. What self-help books do best, in my opinion, is to link two relatively unknown souls on a relatively common platform, thus providing individuals a scope to know about another person’s experience in a similar situation. And with self-help books being a fad these days, just about anyone, who experiences a sapience, wishes to be lauded for his/her pearls of wisdom. At a glance, these books could be works of pure fiction or they could actually hint towards a deeper understanding of oneself. After all, it’s self-discovery, that these books aim at, isn’t it?
Scope for Introspection
From time immemorial, saints and sages have talked about man’s ardent desire to search for the ultimate truth, the truth about themselves. Even authors like Mitch Albom, Anthony Robbins, Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, etc., have talked about self introspection in their works. Besides, man’s inquisitive nature, and thirst for his spiritual existence leads him to nirvana. Most of the self-help books are written with the sole intention of leading an individual deeper into oneself. Man’s yearning to break free from all the bonds and seek solace within is known to almost everyone, and this yearning leads him to one of the self-help books that mediate him to dig deeper into the self. In the words of Neale, “The deepest secret is that life is not a process of discovery, but a process of creation. You are not discovering yourself, but creating yourself anew. Seek, therefore, not to find out Who You Are, seek to determine Who You Want to Be”.
A Ray of Hope
According to the trend observed in markets, individuals rush to pick a copy of self-help books especially to soothe themselves when faced with difficult situations. Books that deal with facing depression, tackling anxiety attacks, developing friendship, etc., have definitely seen a rise, but are they worth the money? Basically, what you and I do, is run to people for advice in a relatively sticky situation and what better way to do that than to open a book and read for yourself. Most of us consider these books to be the greatest source of wisdom; but a thought to ponder on is imperative. Before you venture to the store and pick up a book, ask yourself, if it is practical to apply all the implications to your situation. Or are you simply confusing yourself further by referring to a thousand books? If you look at the book just as a light in the dark, there is a possibility that it could flicker off too. It’s true that self-help books are designed to guide you, but if not applied in practical life, it could be misleading too. Think about it.
Real or Placebo Effect
Heraclitus says, “Change is the only constant”, and self-help books are intended to bring about a change in perception. But how far is this change perceivable? If we as seekers with a clear purpose in mind, turn to self-help books, then it can play an instrumental role to bring about the desired change. Self-help books point out the importance of our relationships with one another, which are correlated with happiness and inner well-being; it is in all cases, subjective to the individual. One question you should ask yourself when referring to a self-help book is, is this for real or a mere placebo effect? Bear in mind that what works well for your friend may not work for you, or for any other individual for that matter. As mentioned earlier, change is the only constant, and all of us are subconsciously changing every moment of our lives. As believed, self-help books can have a desired outcome, only if you as an individual implement the information in your practical everyday life.
Tread with Caution
By all means yes, this is the ultimate warning. Self-help books can offer wonderful advice, but are you ready to accept facts and make a lasting impact on your life? All self-help books talk about is, taking the step forward and being the change that you always want to have in your life. All valid confusion can be literally wiped away, if we condition our minds to think in the way, that is written about. The whole purpose of a self-help book may be lost if you do not condition your old ways and tune in to the new. Besides, it is always best to remember that, not every advice written in these books can be applied in practical life. Would you blindly trust a stranger telling you that your actions prove you insane? If your answer is negative, then you ought to give a serious thought to follow every single advice meted out in a self-help book. After all, even though we are created from the same earth, not all of us think and behave in the same way.
As for me, self-help books serve as a great tool to know where, I as an individual, am heading in life. Self-help books, for me, are a source of information and a medium for self introspection. You are free to differ in your opinion, for after all, life is what you perceive it to be and no one is born with a forced will.
Getting the garden ready
I grew up with a huge backyard, so I was lucky enough to be one of the only ones in school with
a pool in her backyard. One year, my parents decided to add a fruit, herb, and vegetable garden
to the back fences surrounding our property. It was one of the best decisions they have ever
made. Our garden has been around for over 12 years now, and we can have delicious, fresh, and
organic meals all year round due to our plentiful harvests. We grow onions, beans, cucumbers,
pumpkins—one year we even grew watermelons and strawberries! I really loved growing up
with a garden in my home.
Now that I am an adult and live on my own, I want to have a garden as luscious as the one
my parents grew. I planted a few herbs and staple vegetables like zucchini and tomato, and
surrounded them with a garden trellis. The trellises really add a special beauty to my home. I got
wooden lattice ones, but there are also styles for a vinyl trellis and iron trellises as well. If you want to add a special flair to your home garden, a
trellis is a great way to go! I can’t wait to harvest the fruits of my labor.
Cycling In The Pennines
The good thing for cyclists about the backbone of England, and the surrounding area (particularly the more northern one goes), is that it is in fact very hilly. Nobody expects Dutch or southern-style flat expanses, just real terrain, with its gruelling ups and thrilling downs, all set in the heart of luscious green England.
Sounds interesting? Of course it does! Even if you’re not an especially competent cyclist, the awe-inspiring Pennine routes offer something for everyone. After all, it takes dedication to brave the entire length of the range on an unforgettable route that takes any willing challenger on a whirlwind ride half the length of England, from the brink of the Midlands to the edge of the North Sea.
Anyone braving this can be prepared to see most of what makes the country so wonderful and atmospheric, starting in the traditionally industrial area surrounding Derby, via the rustic hills, God’s own county of Yorkshire, and a whole range of beautiful villages and countryside, including the idyllic Appleby. It’s a journey of discovery of natural beauty, historical tradition and culture that even the most anglicised natives can learn from and enjoy.
But then that’s not for everyone. Many opt for only the northern route, which starts at the aforementioned Appleby (tiny but impossibly inviting) and concludes in Berwick-upon-Tweed. If you choose to set up your own accommodation at B&Bs along the route, then you can also pace yourself depending on how much cycling you’re realistically going to achieve every day – remember, when it comes to hills, don’t overdo it! A day of climbing will tire even the most seasoned mountain bike riders.
Nevertheless, do not be put off – this represents a perfect opportunity to enjoy some of the best cycling scenarios in the entire world, and you’d be truly foolish to miss out!
Things that May Go Wrong at a Wedding
. For the rest, you can try to prevent certain wedding day disasters and gracefully manage wedding day mishaps in a way that no one (but you and a few close friends), knows what, if anything went wrong. Given below are the most common small mishaps and worst case scenarios at a wedding, ways to manage disasters on the day of the wedding, and tips to properly plan your wedding.
Wedding Day Mishaps
Before you read any further, know that your wedding ‘mishaps’ are the ones that are going to make your wedding truly memorable (for wrong or right reasons, depending on how you handle them). Besides, no one is going to know that the centerpiece was supposed to have shades of baby pink in it or that the dessert served was not what you ordered, unless you tell them. Now, go through the given list and if any of these happen on your wedding day, cover them up quickly or make them your style statement without alerting your wedding guests.
- Wrong Names: It is not uncommon for misprinted names to be found on a wedding invitation. The situation gets more uncomfortable if the Master of Ceremonies (MC), the wedding announcer, or even the wedding officiant reads out the wrong name.
- Disrupted Schedule: A wedding known for tardiness or for being out-of-schedule, is not something that anyone wants, but many carry such ‘tardy’ wedding memories. Sometimes, the order of the wedding ceremonies have to be altered because a particular person (maybe the maid of honor or the best man) or thing (like a wedding cake) is missing or running late.
- Dress Disasters: This is the most common and most frequent wedding day mishap that can occur if the dress (usually of the bridal party) is delivered late, has fitting problems (can be tight or loose), tears or rips at the seams while putting it on, gets stained, the zipper goes on the fritz, someone steps on the wedding dress (could be you!), etc.
- Shoe Problems: There are only three things that can go wrong with wedding shoes: it gets misplaced, doesn’t fit or gets damaged (especially the heels on the bride’s or her bridesmaid’s sandals).
- Dizzy Bride: Amidst all the wedding preparations, excitement and stress, it is not unusual for a stressed-out bride to feel faint, have a headache, breakdown in tears, become very cranky or get panicky. Other bride related mishaps include: breakout a night before the wedding, swollen eyes or adverse effects of a beauty treatment or medicine.
- Makeup Issues: A wedding day is one time when you want to look, not just good or your best, but THE best. Things can go wrong with your planned wedding look when: the makeup artist is late or does not show up, there’s a mess of your hairdo or the makeup or you have a makeup melt down (due to rain, heat or emotions!).
- Decor Hassles: In almost all weddings, there are one or more dcor troubles: wrong flower arrangements, poor lighting, incorrect or unseemly linens and table cloth, missing or damaged dcor items (like runners or centerpieces), the list is endless and unique to each wedding.
- Music Misery: The music at a wedding can go wrong in any number of ways: a DJ who doesn’t show up, an inexperienced or a know-it-all DJ, inappropriate, mismatched or unrequested music.
- Food Problems: Sometimes, despite all your efforts and precautions to give a pleasant feast to your wedding party, you can land up with a messed-up menu, ‘upgraded’ dishes (which you don’t want) or low-quality food. The wedding cake needs a special mention here because anything can go wrong with it: it topples from its place, gets smashed, the wedding cake you want is out of stock or not available (mostly happens in destination weddings).
- Guest Troubles: Every wedding (except the ones which employ bouncers), is graced with ‘uninvited’ or guests who haven’t replied to an RSVP. In some cases, these ‘extra’ guests become a source of inconvenience to others. Then there are the unfriendly guests who give out-of-place responses or act as joy dampers (mostly the spotlight hogger) and the usual drunk guests who can be great entertainers at times and spoilsports at others.
- Wedding Favor Failures: Another thing to look out for is untimely, faulty or misprinted wedding favors. Quite often, the wedding guests leave behind wedding favors, intentionally (they dislike it, already have or are allergic to it, etc.,) or unintentionally (they don’t know they can take it home or they just plain forget it).
- Weather Woes: This is one problem that is very prominent in outdoor weddings and there’s not much you can do about it. Unexpected rain, excess heat or even storms and strong winds are known to have disrupted more than a few weddings.
- Booking Confusion: In some weddings, the hotel or venue bookings get doubly booked or mysteriously canceled. There are times when you expect your wedding venue or hotel officials to provide you certain services, but you are left disappointed and stranded (because they didn’t have it in the first place or it is unavailable now). Travel arrangements is another thing you can never be sure of (shortage or delay of transport vehicles are common occurrences at most weddings).
- Fussy Wedding Helpers: People you have hired for delegated tasks might cause a problem if they don’t turn up, make a late entry, are unwilling to accommodate changes, go back on their words or do a sloppy work. Wedding officiant, photographers, makeup artists, caterers or even cranky ring bearers and flower girls are a part of this special wedding list.
- Missing Wedding Rings: The reason why missing wedding rings need a special mention is because wedding rings are known to have escaped stringent surveillance. No matter who has the responsibility to safeguard and present the wedding rings, they can go missing (often because some friend or family member had the sudden urge to take a ‘peek’ before the ceremony).
Managing Wedding Day Disasters
Some of the mishaps mentioned above (and those left out) are beyond your control (believe it or not, you cannot control the weather!). In such situations, you have two options: freak out (cry, yell or frown through your wedding) or do some quick, effective ‘wedding disaster management’ with aplomb and dignified grace. If you think the second option suits you best, here are some helpful tips.
- The first important thing for managing wedding day disasters is to be prepared. Ask your maid of honor to carry an emergency kit which should have your medications, safety pins, adhesives (super glue, regular tape, double stick tape), toiletries, hairspray, comb, lotions, deodorants, perfumes, makeup items, eatables (snack bar, crackers and mints), tissues and hand towels, extra pair of matching jewelry, lipstick and nail polish, eye drops, stain remover wipes, mending kit, baby wipes and white chalk (very important).
- Leave a person you trust (a wedding planner, friend or family member) to handle wedding day mishaps and disasters so you can participate in your wedding celebrations.
- Keep a time margin for everyone and insist that everyone stick to it religiously. As much as possible, bring all the essential items before time and store them in a proper place. Remember it is better to be early than late.
- In case you having dress problems, use safety pins or the sewing kit to tuck the loose ends, remove one line of the outside seam and then sew it up. In the worst case scenario, you might have to buy a new dress from a nearby store.
- Don’t keep anything that might stain (colored liquids, chocolates, etc.), in the dressing room and have only the people you need in the dressing room. Crowd equals to mess, and mess equals to mishaps.
- Keep the weather in mind while deciding on the makeup. If for some reason the makeup is ruined and you cannot take a break, discreetly remove it using baby wipes (take the help of your maid of honor or else you might end up ruining your look more).
- Use eye drops to remove redness in the eye and special eye cream (not ice – it will dry your eyes and make them itchy) to reduce swollen eyes.
- Use a stain remover wipe or a white chalk to get rid of dress stains at the wedding ceremony or the wedding reception. So either carry them with you or ask someone else to do it for you.
- Request the organizer at the wedding venue (or the caterer) to arrange extra chairs for extra guests.
- As far as possible, ignore the disruptive guests, and if they still continue doing their things, ask a close friend to have a discreet chat with them or their companions.
- Give out slices of ‘secretly’ cut regular cream cake if your wedding cake is smashed or delivered late.
- If your DJ puts up a no-show or is late, connect an iPod or MP3 player or if there is a singer among your family or friends, ask them to sing without instruments while something else is being arranged.
- Give out umbrellas and hand towels for when it rains. If you can, ask a few volunteers to aid the wedding guests in making trips.
- For things only you know went wrong, smile and pretend as if it was always a part of your plan!
Proper Wedding Day Planning
The most (and the only) important thing you can do to have a dream wedding is plan out the whole thing and then execute it in the best way you can. Because of the wedding mishaps you might have on the wedding day, you don’t have to throw your hands up and say it’s never going to work your way so why strive. You are right, there is no point in striving but there is a huge reward in trying. For starters, you will be more prepared, more in control and when anything goes wrong, you will know where to turn for help. All you have to do is follow some tips for wedding planning and preparation.
- Go With the Flow: Your wedding day is not the time to ‘experiment’. So don’t try a new beauty treatment or order a dish you are not sure of just because some say it worked for them. There is comfort in familiarity. It does not mean that you do what everyone does, it merely is a caution against things that can turn out either way. You will be more at peace knowing what to expect than anticipating any ‘surprises’ that might be closer to a shock. If you still want something different, have a trial (even for food dishes) at least a few days before the wedding day.
- Hire With Care: For any service (right from the wedding officiant to the valet), know whom you are hiring. Take an interview, ask for references, acquaint yourself with the liability policy and the consequence of violating your wishes, in short look before you leap. When you are sure you want to go ahead, be specific and firm (with extra emphasis on exceptions like things you absolutely detest or don’t want, food allergies, religious requirements, etc.) in stating what you want till the opposite person has clearly understood your wedding expectations. Then put every tiny detail that you discuss in writing and get it signed by the concerned person. For any future changes, keep only one point of contact so that there are no confusing instructions or blame games later on.
- United Wedding Stands: The worst thing you can do is trying to make your wedding a one-man (or woman) show. You need help. It can come from friends and family or hired from outside. But don’t go overboard – chances are you might not remember who was left in-charge of the wedding runners. Have a core team (people you can trust with your life), and inner circle (people you know won’t let you down) and the fringe men (people you, or your core, think can be trusted). Keep in constant touch with the core, ask the core to supervise the inner circle while you look into their work sometimes and leave the fringe men completely under the care of the core.
- Wish Upon a List: For your wedding, make friends with ‘Lists’. List has a group of friends called the Wedding Checklist (enables you to keep a tab on the wedding preparations), Photo Shoot List (doesn’t let you forget any wedding shot you want), Menu List (makes it easier to check on the food before the wedding guests arrive), Music List (so that you and your wedding party are not left at the mercy of the DJ’s tastes and whims). The best part is you can make ‘clones’ of these lists to assist you, your helper and the concerned persons and no one will ‘forget’ your wedding day expectations. (Just don’t misplace them because they will be of no use if found after the wedding.)
- Rehearsal Makes Perfect: Try out everything you are going to use on the day of your wedding; as far as possible, a night before the wedding day. If anyone in your bridal party has made even slight alterations in the dress, have a trial again, preferably in the store or with the tailor. This applies to even the groom and his groomsmen (you don’t want the best man in a tux one size too big at the altar!). Try out any new hairstyle or makeup well in advance so you don’t need to discover new ways for looking the way you want to.
- Beloved Plan B: No matter which part of the wedding you are planning, have a contingency plan ready. Where possible put the Plan B in motion and if not, be ready with contacts whom you can approach when a particular need arises. For instance, take the contact number of local bakeries whom you can contact in case of a wedding cake mishap. Make provision for umbrellas, shelters or tents if you are not sure of the weather in an outdoor wedding. Order extra wedding favors, add 5 (or more) members to the number of your guests. Contact and confirm all orders and invited guests.
For most people, especially the brides, their wedding day is very close to their heart and something that they have planned for a long time. But in the quest to make your wedding, the wedding of your dreams, don’t forget the real reason for the wedding day: your marriage. So keep yourself calm, and enjoy even the seemingly ‘bad’ experiences. If not, the one thing you are sure to regret more than the wedding day mishaps and disasters is, wasting time fretting over things instead of participating in the joy and celebration of your wedding.